In this course you will first learn about the definition of a fluid and the properties of a fluid, such as density, compressibility, and viscosity. You will then see how these properties influence the way in which fluids flow in response to pressure and velocity variations. You will study this dependence via conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy. Use and solution of these equations for many situations allows the determination of many details of the fluid flow.
Please note: this legacy course does not offer a certificate and may contain broken links and outdated information. Although archived, it is open for learning without registration or enrollment.
You may think at first that the words “fluid” and “mechanics” should not go together. However, the ways in which fluids (gases and liquids and a few other materials) respond to forces, exert forces, and move from one place to another (their mechanics) are crucially important to many aspects of our experience and our ability to build tools. Consider, for example, the following areas in which fluid mechanics play an important, if not fundamental, role: - Meteorology and ocean dynamics (tsunamis, hurricanes, and tornados) - Fluid flow within living systems (blood flow, lymph flow, air flow) - Hydraulic machinery (jacks, pumps, lifts, steering mechanisms) - Chemical processing and piping (pumps, reactors, separators, pipelines) - Turbomachinery (jet engines, power plants) - Aeronautical and ship machinery (airplanes, helicopters, boats and ships).
This course focuses on applications to two specialized situations: flow in pipes and flow around submerged objects (wings for example). In particular, you will learn to calculate pressure drops in piping systems and forces around submerged objects when exposed to flow. The course concludes with a brief introduction to the complexities of compressible flow, as opposed to flow in which the fluid density is constant.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Formulate basic equations for fluid engineering problems.
- Use the Poiseuille equation, Reynolds number correlations, and Moody charts for description of laminar and turbulent pipe flows.
- Use tables, figures, and energy equations to predict pressure drop in pipes, across fittings and through pumps and turbines.
- Perform dimensional analysis and identify important parameters.
- Calculate pressure distributions, forces on surfaces, and buoyancy.
- Analyze flow situations and use appropriate methods to obtain quantitative information for engineering applications.
